Golf club direction indicator attachment



Feb. 23, 1954 A. c. FAY

GOLF'CLUB DIRECTION INDICATOR ATTACHMENT Filed March 31, 1951 N Y 7 mm mm RN YN. A Q m \N N .UNRN MI T M g, m

Patented Feb. 23, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT GOLF CLUB :DIRECTION'INDIGATOR ATTACHMENT;

All'ynC. Fay, ,East 'He'mpstead, ,N." 1Y2. ApplicatiomMarch iil, 1951;Serial Noe218i61Z1 6,(3la.ims.v (01. 2735163 This invention relates to;an. attachment: for:

golf clubs, and. more. particularly: an attachment for a. putter; or;similar clubato" enable a". player, ,while practicing, ,to.:align theclub; with; relation to the ball; in; such, a. manner. that. he: willobtain .a definite. visual indication of the. direction in which.clubhead. is; facing, to enable him to predetermine; withnsome degreeof.accuracy, the direction the ballv will take: when struck.-

In.;putting,- or'other golflstrokes in which: anular; directionisofvitaliimportance; it is ..ex+ tremely, difiicult to, align; the club,head iIIiSIlCh a ,manner;-thatlthes ball; whenastruck, will accuratelyfollow a; predeterminedidirection:

This requires accurate; alignment: oftthe. face, ofaclub, whichais;irregular in: form, so, that the ballwhen struck-,1. williaccuratelyfollow: the? required. direction toward: the. 0111).:

In: order. to acquireaaz, highzdegree of: skillliin; handling a club ofthis type, itvisaessentialthat a player; practice.a1great'ideal;inwobtaining: club; head alignment and directional:control:

The object of: my: invention .isztoaprovide an attachment: for the head:off; as golf Fclub; which will enable a; player to: simultaneously andi ac curately align the hGBJdQOf the club withz'the ball, accuratelylevel-the :headiof' the? club,: with relation to the ground: level,and-accuratelyfsightI the" direction in; which: the .=cli1b: head:ismfacing, to enable the player-tonalign"then-club? with the' cup,-or-other object; toward whichxthezball i is to be:directed:

A: further objectis; to provide .e' an; attachment-,2. for," agolf' clubhead,1whichmay readily and:v easily be attached to the'head .of ia;club, ,andis adjustable, so that itLcaniloeamounted? onsazwide range--of club head 1 shapes and :sizes;

Another 'object is .to provide'graduationson the; face of t theattachment ,-to enable arplayer to ac:- curately align. the; ball.withthe striking surface. of the club, andaccurately centerthercballrwitht relation-to the, direction pointer.

A further. obj ectl-isnto provide. an. indicating, attachment, fitted.with, a. spirit level', which can be readily adjusted to enablethelplayer totad-I just the level to conform to levelofthe ground,regardless of the angular p osition of the upper edge of the headof*the*cl'ub:

A primaryobject is-to produce a'-unit*"which*-is rugged; can beproduced" at relatively-low -cost; and can be-adjustedi' mounted -andlutilized by: personshavingdittl'e or no specializedimechanical A skillor training:

Theaccompanyingtdrawingsgaillustrativemf one;

c Admtar-led;wing;tom-other;suitahleetmzvewftheadembodiment;oftmylinventiom, together with) the description: on itS'1construction and, the method. of: installation, operation, andutilization there ofi-,-;.\wi11.- -serve; tot clarify further objectsand advantages of my invention.

Inzthedrawings: 1

Fig; 1 israwfront-relevation; of the. headwof a. putter,; withtan?indicatorcattachment mountedthereon.

Fig,,,2 -is:-a plan view. ofr-therzindicator attach ment, attached tothe putter head shown=inc Fig; 1,; with: a ball: 1112111308.;

Rig. 3 is a-.;-ver.tical section-r through the putten' head: and;theamountingiflanges 1 of the indicator; taken; at 1 3-3,--,,.Fig 2-...

It will be understood.- thatethe following description of i the:construction, .method .of attachment and: operation of the-golfclubzdirectiony indicator, is, intende'de as:explanatory of the. inventionand not restrictive-thereof.

In thendrawinga, the: same reference numerals:- designate-the:same-eparts throughoutthe.variousviews.

The'direction indicator, shown -in:l?igs.- 1,. 2 and 3;,may berattachedto:the head. H], of a-putteror: similartgolfclubn The attachment whichmay bemade of. sheet steel, aluminum; a plastic material; ,ort-othersheet material, comprises airelatively flattop l I, ofsub stantially;rectangular ,CIIDSS": section, with a trie angularpointer I2; formed atthe -front'- end thereof;

AmaperturedA, ,of square,-;rectangular, 'orsother.

suitable-lrcontour with large fillets. l5, formed at thecorners-thereof;may betcut through the top, insubstantialalignment with thenormalstriking,

position ;of the ball; I6 to enable a player 2 to see the :ball;;,whi1ea:the aclub head is swung; through i a short are, preparatory'tostrikingthe ball. in

the:usual;.manner:'

The; frontzendfof: the; side members 1 ofrnthe:

indicatorzztopdmay; be folded .over; as indicated: in Fig. 3, theextreme endf.of.the-.-foldedv sectioni being bentuover toiforma pair.offlanges l8 and l 9-; ..substantially i perpendicular :to. the atop,-

The:reariportiomofteach of thesida-membersr I 1 i of; th'ectopgmay also:be: bent -:downward,. as:-

indicatedz-in-sflig-t- 355- pform argripping flange :20,

substantially perpendicular to: the :top, ,the outer, endzoie-eacn-lofzthagripning nanges. being-folded:

back: upomitselfctmf orm 21amauxiliary; flange; and;

retainer: 2.1 .f01;; a: clamp screwa-221;;Whichrmamfbe,

supported: bye each. of the doubled-L threadably: flangesa may be formedintegral with one end of the clamp screw 22, a substantially sphericalend 23 being formed at the opposite end of the screw, the spherical endsupporting a swivel clamping head 24, in the manner indicated in Fig. 3,to enable the swivel head to assume an angular position, in conformitywith the plane of the rear face 25, of the head of the club.

A formed plate spring 26, made of spring steel, or other suitablematerial, may be attached to the inner face of the left-hand flange I8,the opposite end of the spring engaging the face of the club head. Asimilar spring 21, may be attached to the opposite flange IS, in asimilar manner. The left-hand spring comprises a flat base 28, which maybe attached to the flange l8 by a plurality of rivets 29, spot welded tothe flange, or otherwise attached thereto, and a clamping face 36,angularly disposed to the base, and spaced therefrom by an intermediatesection, formed integral with the base, the clamping face of the springassuming an angular position in substantial alignment with the slope ofthe forward face 3! of the club head, in the clamping position, shown inFig. 3.

In the free position, the clamping face of the spring assumes an angleconsiderably greater than that of the forward face of the club head, toenable the head of the club to distort the spring and place it undertension, in the gripping position.

The spring 21, attached to the right hand flange 19 of the indicator,may be constructed in a similar manner, the base 28, being located atthe top of the spring, and attached to the flange I9, in the mannerhereinbefore described.

The clamping face 32, formed integral with the base, assumes an angle inalignment with the plane of the forward, or striking face ill of theclub head, in the gripping position, although in its free position thespring clamping face is projected outward, to place the spring undertension in the gripping position.

In order to enable the player to accurately gage the position of theclub head relative to the ball, a plurality of graduations 33, may beengraved or otherwise formed in the rear section 34, of the top,adjacent the aperture M. The central graduation 35, may be insubstantial alignment with the striking center of the club head when theattachment is mounted in the position, shown in Fig. 2. A plurality ofequally spaced narrow graduations 33a, may be formed, as indicated atthe left-hand side of Fig. 2, or wider spaced graduations 331), shown atthe right-hand side, Fig. 2, may be utilized, the spacing of thegraduations being determined by the accuracy required in loeating thestriking face of the club head with relation to the center of the ball.

The plane of the top I l, of the indicator, would normally be locatedsubstantially parallel to the bottom edge 36 of the club head, which isusually located at ground level.

In order to level the club head, independently of the angular positionof the plane of the indicator, a spirit level 31, may be mounted at thefront end of the top H, behind the pointer [2. The spirit levelcomprises a sealed, substantially cylindrical liquid-filled tube havinghemispherically formed ends, the ends being supported by similarlyformed heads 38, mounted at the ends of the tube, a packing 39 beinginserted between each tube end and the head, to protect the spirit leveltube from abrasion. An intermediate tubular casing 40 may be attachedto, or formed integral with one head and. permanently, or removablyattached to the opposite head, by suitable attaching means. An ovalparallel-edged slot 4|, may be cut through the casing, to enable theplayer to observe the bubble in the spirit level.

A pair of cars 42, may be attached to, or formed integral with each ofthe tube casing heads, as indicated in Fig. 3. A pair of substantiallyvertical supports 43 may be cut out of the forward section of the top,the supports being bent upward, substantially perpendicularly to theplane of the top, to support the spirit level tube heads in the mannershown in Figs. 1 and 2. In the free position the ears 42, may besubstantially parallel to the axis of the spirit level, as indicated atthe left-hand side, Fig. 2. In the gripping position, the ears would bebent around the vertical supports, to grip the supports, therebysupporting the spirit level heads, in the manner indicated on theright-hand side, Fig. 2. The use of the cars 42, as a means ofsupporting the spirit level, enables the spirit level to be mounted in alevel position, regardless of the plane of the flat top H of theindicator, or the upper edge of the club head, to enable the player toaccurately level the club head, parallel to the bottom edge 36, of theclub head, regardless of the angular position of the other surfaces.

While a putter head of one type and crosssection is shown in Figs. 1, 2and 3, the attachment may be used on a wide range of putter headconstructions, the support flanges, formed integral with the top of theindicator, the springs, and the clamp screws being adjustable toaccommodate a wide range of club head heights, thicknesses, and faceangle positions.

In place of the pivoted head attached to the clamping end of theadjusting screw, other types of clamping surface may be provided, eitherformed integral with the screw, or attached thereto, depending upon theplane of the rear face of the club head, the thickness of the club head,and the range of club head thicknesses to be accommodated by aparticular unit.

The size of the spirit level, the method of supporting the spirit levelwithin the holder, and the method of attaching the spirit level holderheads to the indicator, may be altered considerably depending upon thesize and type of spirit level used, the construction of the holder, andthe construction of the indicator proper.

The indicator may be constructed of one piece of sheet material, formedand folded in the manner indicated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, or the flangesmay be formed separately, and welded, brazed, riveted, or otherwiseattached to a separate top.

In place of the sheet metal construction, shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, theindicator may be formed of a laminated phenolic sheet material, or otherplastic sheet, built up in sections of a laminated phenolic material, ormolded in one piece of a suitable plastic material, the essentials ofthe construction and the method of supporting the indicator attachmenton the club head being substantially as indicated in the drawings andhereinbefore described.

The form and contour of the aperture, formed in the top of theattachment, may be altered considerably, depending upon the size of thetop of the indicator, and the area required to observe the golf ball,before it is struck by the club head.

The form and contour of the pointer formed at the front end of theindicator, shown in Fig. 1, may be altered considerably, the, angles ofthe sides being varied to;- obtain an accurate guide for} the clubhead;v

The spacing; of the graduations, formed at the rearend of the top of theindicator, and. the overall width of the graduation-s, may bevaried,depending upon the overallwidthor the indicator, the size of'theapertureformed the-top, and the length ofthe ball striking-area'of theclub face, which is to be utilized.

relative to the position of; the ball and the cup, or other simulatingobject, used tedeterminethe direction which the-ball is-to talie, theclub, with the attachment mounted thereon, and the-spirit level properlyadjusted relative to the bottom edge of the club head,- may' beu'tilizedinthefol lowing manner:- The bottom edge of levelled relative to thenormal-ground line by centering the bubble in thespi-rit level;

The player may observe the ball through the aperture formed in the topof the indicator, and align the ball with the club head-face by means ofthe graduations formed'in the top of -the indicator.

Byaligning the pointer along the projected line of travel between theball and the cup, or other object, the club head is placedintheproperangular position to direct the ball along itscorrectpath after it isstruck bythe player.

The are of movementof the club headis the usual are required;- fordirecting the ball to the cup, and would depend upon the distancebetween the ball and the cup.

In training a player-to properly align-his-club It will be apparent tothose skilled in theart that my present invention is not limited to thespecific details described above and shown in the drawings, andthatvarious-further modifications are possible in carrying out-the featuresof the invention without departing fromthe spirit and scope of theappended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A direction indicator for removable attachment to the head-of a golfclub, ofthe conventional type, for aligning said club head in. thedirection of movement of aball, the club head remaining unaltered,comprising a top plate mounted above the club head, said top platehaving an aperture formed therein, in substantial. alignment with oneface of the club, to enable, a, player-stabbserve the ball through saidaperture, a. pointer formed integral withone end. of said top. plate inaxial alignment with saidaperture-said, top piate having a pair ofsubstantially parallel support members formed integral therewith, aspirit level mounted between said support members, a housing supportingsaid spirit level, and means adjustably attaching said housing to thesupport members, said spirit level indicating the normal ground level,relative to the club head, in its normal striking position, a pair offlanges formed integral with the sides of said top plate, adjacent oneface of the club head, a pair of rear flanges formed integral with theend of said top plate, near the opposite club face, and means threadablyattached to each of said rear flanges removably clamping the club headbetween said flanges.

2. A direction indicator for removable attachment to the head of a golfclub, of the conventional type, for aligning said club head in thedirection of movement of a ball, the club head remaining unaltered,comprising a top plate mounted above the club head, said top plate theclub headmay be the ball-striking QQtion of 6'. having anaperture'formed. therein, in tial alignment, with the. ball-strikingsection. on one faceof the; club. head, to. enableia playzen to observethe. ball through. said: aperture a pointer formed:v integral? with one,end; of said top: plate. in axial alignment withsaidmper-ture, thesection of the top plate, adjacent. the. apere time, having a.plurality: of; graduations formed therein, to indicate theposition ofthe. striking center of the. clubrface, relativeto-the ball, saidtop-plate having a pairoi substantially parallel supportmembersintegral/therewith, ajspiritdevela tube mounted between the.support. members, a housing. supporting.- said spirit. leveli tube,each.

, end ofasaidi housinghaving-apain-of: earsdntegral.

therewith, each pair ofrears beingadjustablyrate taohed to thecor-responding. support member, a pair of. flanges formediintegralxwith.the. sides of said top plate, adjacent one facetofr the. club head, aplate springiattached to. each. of: said flanges, each. of. saidspringshaxzing a clamping faceengaging. the fact of=the.club-head=, apair of rear flanges formed. integral with! the end or said. top. plate,near. the opposite club. face, a screw.v threadably attached. to. eachon said. rear. flanges, the free end ofzeachofzsaidscrewshav: ingaswivel head attachedtthereto, said. flanges straddling the. club head,the club headbeing clamped between the. swivel: head; and. the springattachedxto the. opposite flange.

3. A direction indicatorfor.removable attach: ment to theheadof: a,golf: club, ofa the. conven tional type, for. align-ingrsaid'. clubheadin the direction ofv movementofla ball, the. club. head remaining.unaltered, comprising, a. top plate mounted above. the club head; said.top. plate having an aperture formed:- therein, in. substane tialalignment with the. ball-strikhagsection of one. face of the club,tolenablea. player. to ob-.- serve. the balLthroughIsaid. apertur apointer formed integral with. one. end of said. top plate in axialvalignment. with said; aperture, a portion of the top plate adjacent:thaapertu-re. having a plurality of graduations 1 inscribed; thereon,the center of said 'graduations being. in substantial alignment with thecenter; ofi'the. pointer, said top. late having a pairofisubstantial-ly. parallel support members formed: integral therewith,a spirit level mounted between said. support. mem= bers,ahousingsupporting saidspirit level,- and means adjustablyattachingsaidghousing to the support members, said. spirit level. indicatingrtheground level, relative to, the. club. head; inil its normal strikingposition, a..pair:.of flangesformed integral; with thesides of: said toplate, adjacent one. face of the club-.head, a pair-ofrear flangesformed integral with the endoflsaid top plate, near the opposite clubface, and means threadably attached to each of said rear flangesremovably clamping the club head between said flanges.

4. A direction indicator for removable attachment to the head of a golfclub. of the conventional type, for aligning said club head in thedirection of movement of a ball, the club head remaining unaltered,comprising a top plate mounted above the club head, said top platehaving an aperture formed therein, in substantial alignment with theball-striking section of one face of the club, to enable a player toobserve the ball through said aperture, a pointer formed integral withone end of said top plate in axial alignment with said aperture, the topplate having a pair of substantially parallel support members integraltherewith, a spirit level mounted between the support members, a housingsupporting said spirit level, each end of said housing having a pair ofears integral therewith, each pair of ears being adjustably attached tothe corresponding support member, one end of the sides of said top platebeing folded, the free end of each of said folded sides being bent toform a flange, adjacent one face of the club head, a formed plate springattached to each of said flanges, each of said springs having a clampingface engaging the adjacent face of the club head, a pair of rear flangesformed integral with the end of said top plate, near the opposite clubface, a screw threadably attached to each of said rear flanges, and aswivel head attached to each of said screws, said flanges straddling theclub head, the club head being clamped between the swivel head and thespring attached to the opposite flange.

5. A direction indicator for removable attachment to the head of a golfclub, of the conventional type, for aligning said club head in thedirection of movement of a ball, the club head remaining unaltered,comprising a top plate mounted above the club head, said plate having anaperture formed therein, in substantial alignment with the ball-strikingposition of one face of the club, to enable a player to observe the ballthrough said aperture, a pointer formed integral with one end of saidtop plate in axial alignment with the aperture, the section of the topplate, adjacent the aperture, having a plurality of graduations formedtherein, the center of said graduations being in alignment with thecenter of the pointer, to indicate the position of the striking centerof the club face relative to the ball, said top plate having a pair ofsubstantially parallel support members formed integral therewith, aspirit level mounted between said support members, a housing supportingsaid level tube. each end of said housing having a pair of ears formedintegral therewith, each pair of ears being clamped around thecorresponding support member, to adjustably support the spirit level,said spirit level indicating the ground level, relative to the club headin its normal striking position, a pair of flanges formed integral withthe sides of said top plate, adjacent one face of the club head, aformed plate spring attached to each of said flanges, each of saidsprings having a clamping face engaging the face of the club head, apair of rear flanges formed integral with the end of said top plate,behind the opposite club face, and means threadably attached to each ofsaid rear flanges removably clamping the club head between the threadedmeans and the springs.

6. A direction indicator for removable attachment to the head of a golfclub, of the conventional type, for aligning said club head in thedirection of movement of a ball, the club head remaining unaltered,comprising a top plate mounted above the club head, said top platehaving an aperture formed therein, in substantial alignment with theball-striking position of one face of the club, to enable a player toobserve the ball through the aperture, a pointer formed integral withone end of said top plate in axial alignment with the aperture, thesection of the top plate, adjacent the aperture, having a plurality ofgraduations formed therein, the center of said graduations being inalignment with the center of the pointer, to indicate the position ofthe striking center of the club face relative to the ball, said topplate having a pair of substantially parallel support members formedintegral therewith, a spirit level mounted between said support members,a housing supporting said spirit level, each end of said housing havinga pair of ears formed integral therewith, each pair of ears beingclamped around the corresponding support member, to adjustably supportthe spirit level, said spirit level indicating the ground level relativeto the club head, in its normal striking position, a pair of flangesformed integral with the sides of said top plate, adjacent one face ofthe club head, a plate spring attached to each of said flanges, each ofsaid springs having a clamping face engaging the face of the club head,a pair of rear flanges formed integral with the end of said top plate,near the opposite club face, a screw threadably attached to each of saidrear flanges, and a swivel head attached to each of said screws, saidflanges straddling the club head, the club head being clamped betweenthe swivel head and the spring attached to the opposite flange.

ALLYN C. FAY.

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